An extensive 96-mile network of rapid transit lines connecting Paris' poorer outer-ring suburbs, on hold since it was proposed a year ago because of its considerable cost, takes a step closer to realization.
Yonah Freemark writes, "This week, the government opened public debate on the project, revealing the extensive studies it has completed on potential alignments for the rail corridors, including proposed station sites. And the Sarkozy Administration has committed to €4 billion to the Société du Grand Paris, the semi-autonomous organization that will build the project and invest in eight major development sites that will have prime access to the network."
"The project would encompass 155 km (96 miles) of new lines that would be added to the existing automated 5.5-mile Line 14 Metro that currently runs along a southeast-northwest route through Paris."
FULL STORY: Stations Picked, Huge Automated Transit Project for Paris is Closer to Realization

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Rundell Ernstberger Associates
City of Racine
Town of Atoka
Harvard Graduate School of Design Executive Education
Harvard Graduate School of Design Executive Education
Harvard Graduate School of Design Executive Education
Gallatin County, Montana
West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Hand Drawing Master Plans
This course aims to provide an introduction into Urban Design Sketching focused on how to hand draw master plans using a mix of colored markers.